The fans were still finding their seats when the Bulldogs made it 1-0. as a hard battle off the opening faceoff saw Mitchel Deelstra poke it ahead for Matthew Grouchy up the left wing. He would race up ice on a 2 on 1 rush that he worked to perfection, out-waiting the defender before putting a cross-ice feed on the tape of Ryan Doolin on the near side of the crease that he one-timed home at the 10 second mark of the first. The Bulldogs couldn't build off it though, as the Grizzlies answered back to tie it short of seven minutes in as a pass to the top of the right circle was one-timed on goal by Connor Eddy, that was stopped by Luke Pearson. The rebound went across the slot and onto the tape of Kahlil Fontana, who made no mistake finishing it into the open net at 6:40 of the first to make it 1-1. Michael Hoekstra also assisted on the play. The Bulldogs had a couple good chances to take the lead back, but Liam Souliere was sharp to keep it tied. The Grizzlies were unable to take the lead on a power play later in the period, but soon afterwards went up 2-1 on a faceoff loss in the Dogs zone that ended up back in the point, where a quick one-timer found its way on goal through traffic. Pearson would make the first save, but the rebound went across the paint where Marty Westhaver won a battle off the far post to jam it home. Alex DiPaolo drew the lone assist on the play at 14:23 of the first. The Bulldogs responded with a handful of good chances later in the period, but Souliere held the fort. A late-period power play saw the Bulldogs have the puck all around the Grizzlies net on an extended scramble, but they couldn't get a bounce to tie it before the period ran out. Shots in the period were 15-15.
The second period saw no scoring through the midway point of the period, but it was fantastic to watch with frantic action that was fast-paced and end-to-end for long stretches, with both Pearson and Souliere coming up big when tested. The Bulldogs earned a power play two minutes later, and while not scoring on it, they certainly generated chances and momentum. A minute later, it was a 2-2 game as Jimmy Rayhill won a race down the right wing to keep the puck in the zone. Ryan Doolin would find it below the goal line, and made a perfect pass to the slot for Matthew Grouchy, who beat Souliere short-side with a quick release to make it 2-2 at 13:42 of the second. Dawson Tritt was hooked on an in-alone chance a minute later drawing another power play, that the Bulldogs again threatened on and got the building into it, but couldn't find the net. The Grizzlies would take the lead in the dying seconds of the period, on a pass from below the goal line to the front of the net for Cody Monds, that saw Pearson make a great first save, but he couldn't get help on the rebound as Monds won a fight in the paint to jam it home to make it 3-2 at 19:28 of the period, with Brendan Bowie and Trevor Bishop drawing the assists. Shots in the period were 21-9 Bulldogs, for a 36-24 total in their favour after 40 minutes.
The third period began somewhat slow, and continued that way as the Bulldogs were unable to generate any momentum or sustained attack, despite having two power play opportunities to the middle point of the period as the Grizzlies didn't give up much in killing them off. As the period wore on, they just couldn't get anything going, with the Grizzlies being full value for controlling the better of the play. The Bulldogs would be penalized with a minute to play, killing their comeback chances as while they got the goalie out to make it five-on-five hockey, they couldn't generate a chance on Souliere to tie it up.
Third period shots were 13-11 Grizzlies, for a game total of 47-37 Bulldogs, with Luke Pearson taking the loss while Liam Souliere earned 2nd star honours with the win. The Bulldogs went 0 for 4 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 0 for 2.
The Bulldogs are next in action Tuesday night when they host the league leading Coquitlam Express.
Hammer
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